Alligators: Make Strange Pets |
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 T.H. Chenweth photo at Kansas City (R. Craig collection) |
 Steve Schmollinger photo at Eugene, OR in August 1972 |
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A survey of Alco fans would probably show that the six-axle RSD15/17 "alligator" was one
of their all-time favorite diesels. The Schenectady, NY manufacturer built sixty-three of
the elongated low-nose models between January 1959 and March 1960. (It also built 12
high-nose versions of the 2400-hp locomotive.) ATSF was the largest alligator buyer with
50 units (#800-849), SSW bought 10 (#850-859), and SP purchased 3 (#4816-4818). The ranks
of the so-called alligators grew slightly when Quebec Cartier Mining chopped the nose of
six ex-B&LE high-nose RSD15s #881-886 (nee DM&IR #50-55). The only other example was
Canadian Pacific RSD17 #8921. The one-of-a-kind model was built in 1957 by Montreal
Locomotive Works, (an Alco subsidiary). Comparable to its 2400-hp Alco-built cousins, it
received the low-nose treatment from CPR shop forces in 1988.
A few of the popular alligators now reside in museums. The one at the Illinois Railroad Museum is still active, while the others are primarily static exhibits. | |
